In the past decades the popularity of Mate in the Northern hemisphere has increased primarily for its functionality of providing energy. In Germany this is particularly evident in the soft drink industry. Post-Pandemic people have moved away from taking the time to share a „meta-moment“ over a large mate together and with all of the digitalised distractions in our modern world, rituals remain rare. We recently had the pleasure to sit down and share a mate with fellow-matero David Askaripour (Circle of Drink) and speak about the meta-mate-mission….
Mate isn’t merely a drink, or a ‚tea,‘ as it’s often labeled, but an experience; a lifestyle, a way of communicating not only with yourself, but other mate drinkers – the satellite herb connecting and receiving – broadcasting friendship with every sip. Mate is a manifestation – a herbal conductor of openness and friendship – that has appeared on Earth, here with us, instructing in myriad ways. Naturally showing us how to press pause on hectic society life, and press play on connecting with our fellow brothers and sisters.
– David Askaripour „Mateology: the drink beyond a drink“
Although we all have a slightly different approach, most materos have the same goal in sight. Starting his mate journey almost two decades ago, Dave Mate has created a new generation of Materos in the US and beyond with Circle of Drink
While Guayaki was one of the pioneers over 20 years ago with spreading sustainably sourced mate in the North American market, in the past years they have strayed away from the origin and are mostly concocting energetic cocktails that are anything but bitter. It’s better than a Coke, but those looking for cultural traditions might want to „Join the Circle“.
Our world is becoming increasingly politically polarised with the rise of war-driven leaders. Imagine a society where it were it were a norm for people to sit down together and discuss important issues over a Mate. The connectivity created through the mere act of sitting in a circle combined with the positive spirit that this healing herb carries can help in finding constructive solutions.
Imagine if Lewis Carol had known mate, the Mad Hatter and wonderland would have had another dimension..
In these dark days following the elections, one can only send Metta and wishes for a beacon of light at the end of the traumatic tunnel that our Star-Spangled-Mates will have to endure. And we can raise our gourds in hope and sit to mate in peace with compassion for the planet. It is a great time to reflect on the motto….Make Mate Not War
